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Summer Dream
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Summer Dream

by Vance Gese

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 7, 2010461 views37 comments
It is with great hesitation that I post this as I know this type of image has been done hundreds of times and people are probably tired of these. But I thought I would see what you folks think as I have tried this technique only on four occasions with the view camera and this one is the only one that looks somewhat decent. I tried to retain some detail by moving the lens standard down during the last 7 seconds of the 10 second exposure.

Posted this in ESS rather than PA as that seems to be what most folks do with this type of image and to be honest with you, ESS feels like home if that makes any sense.
4x5, 210mm, warm polarizer, Velvia 50, f32.6, 10 secs. M1 scan, TK masks and some USM techniques to further bring out detail.

Large image provided. Much better than the smaller one.

Your thoughts, suggestions, comments, critiques are all always appreciated.
Thank you.

Comments

37 comments
Comment posted by Barry Ashenhurst on January 7, 2010 at 12:48 AM
I like the abstract mood in this, Vance, if that makes any sense. In a large print I imagine there'd be plenty of interesting detail too. I tried to use 5x4 for five years, practically tied myself in knots I did, trying to focus an upside-down image on a dark and grainy glass screen, so anyone who can get results this good from one of those cranky old pudknockers gets my respect.
Registered on August 4, 2009, 253 Posts, 455 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Budde on January 7, 2010 at 2:01 AM
This is the best photograph in this style I've yet to see. No matter how long I stare it at, it still looks like a painting. And those colors! :eek:
Registered on May 19, 2008, 39 Posts, 246 Comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on January 7, 2010 at 2:49 AM
While this has been done quite a bit Vance, this is a truly spectacular use of the technique. The little details popping out add a lot for me, and that you did this with a view camera is very admirable! There's a small sliver of white/blue showing through that catches my attention a bit - I'd probably clone that out. Delightful to see this green in a sea of wintery images!
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on January 7, 2010 at 4:15 AM
I have to agree, this is the best I have seen, the detail is amazing, and I love seeing the greens again. Really beautiful work Vance.
John
Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments
Comment posted by Steve France on January 7, 2010 at 7:10 AM
This is beautiful....delightful in everyway.

People really dont appreciate view camera techique these days... despite digital...its still the best you can get.

Clone out the blue streak for perfection :) :toast:
Registered on September 26, 2007, 89 Posts, 1477 Comments
Comment posted by Martin Stankiewicz on January 7, 2010 at 7:45 AM
I never get tired of the panning shots. And I'm impressed with your skill with the view camera. Well done.
Registered on October 26, 2008, 52 Posts, 462 Comments
Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on January 7, 2010 at 8:22 AM
Might not be a new technique Vance, but you captured something special with this image. I love the color contrasts as well as the textures. This looks like stained glass to me, really great stuff here Vance. I'm a little distracted by the thin blueish line on the left hand side, not sure what that is.

Thanks for sharing!
Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 7, 2010 at 8:48 AM
This is beautiful Vance. Certainly one of the best of this type I've seen, and the colors are just wonderful. Great work.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 7, 2010 at 9:15 AM
This is absolutely fantastic Vance! The texture and light give this a foil effect making it very unique among images captured with this technique. Beautiful in everyway.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Gabi Lach on January 7, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Amazing shot, Vance. Crisp, delicate and very appealing. Green palette filling the whole frame looks great too. Beautiful!
Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Dayton on January 7, 2010 at 10:16 AM
I like this, Vance. There's one blue streak near the bottom left that I don't
understand. I'm wondering if that could be cloned out. Nevertheless, well
done, Vance.
Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments
Comment posted by Jose Suro on January 7, 2010 at 11:03 AM
I like this a lot! Very impressionist. Well done!

Jose
Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 7, 2010 at 11:04 AM
While this technique is becoming prevalent, when done well, and this one is done extremely well, it shows the individual's style and vision. The highlighted branches give this a great texture, almost an embossing. I would love to see a large print of this one. Fantastic job!
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Richins on January 7, 2010 at 11:05 AM
Wonderful effect. To do this with LF is even more impressive.
Registered on March 6, 2008, 113 Posts, 1009 Comments
Comment posted by beth summer on January 7, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Excellent....I frequently do these but you have done an excellent job of maintaining detail. I like the "metallic" feel to it, the greens are glowing and the touch of yellow really gives it "oomph". Very, very good, Vance!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 437 Posts, 5220 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on January 7, 2010 at 11:58 AM
I can't add much to what has already been said, but thought I'd chime in to express my enjoyment of this post. Very nicely done.
Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Anderson on January 7, 2010 at 1:01 PM
Exceptional!
Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments
Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on January 7, 2010 at 1:14 PM
Very nice take on this type of technique. The large photo is wonderful and the small details start to emerge. I agree with Floris about that small sliver of light. :toast:
Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments
Comment posted by John Hoang on January 7, 2010 at 1:48 PM
Lovely image, specially the large one. My eye keeps focusing on the blue-cyan color a lot too.
Registered on January 7, 2010, 0 Posts, 7 Comments
Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on January 7, 2010 at 1:49 PM
This is one of the best I've seen of this technique Vance. I would clone out the blue streak on the left side for more continuity. You got a great image here. Well done.
Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments
Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on January 7, 2010 at 2:02 PM
I've seen the work "painterly" used here quite a bit, but this is a Van Gogh. Beautiful!
Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Sieren on January 7, 2010 at 2:13 PM
Perfect abstract blur work Vance! :toast:
Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on January 7, 2010 at 2:18 PM
I think this is an excellent piece Vance. And since you did that with LF equipment, I am sure you tried to compose and predict the outcome as careful as possible in order not to waste film. Even more impressive how that one came out.
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on January 7, 2010 at 3:36 PM
I dont care it has been done hundreds of times, this is a beautiful image Vance, perfectly excecuted.
Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on January 7, 2010 at 9:02 PM
I'm generally not a fan of these types of photos,, but I like this.

- Dan
Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 7, 2010 at 10:04 PM
I love it, Vance. The larger image looks like an etching. I don't think there are many 4x5ers doing this type of thing, and from the looks of it the format cranks it up to a whole new level.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on January 8, 2010 at 11:08 AM
what i like is this has a little more detail than the typical blur of this type. The large view is wonderful. That one blue stripe get me but if you clone that, you got a winner. :toast:
Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments
Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on January 8, 2010 at 12:08 PM
WOW !!! I feel like I am looking at a painting and I can see the details of the canvas... amazing, Vance!
Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 8, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Vance,

Bold, brilliant, colorful, graphic and of course abstract. Perhaps a little much on the green saturation, but I love this! Yeah, most of us have tried it and I'm like you, I can count on one hand the number of times I've done it with the film camera. I haven't tried it moving the front standard as I was afraid of jolting the setup too much. I guess it depends on the camera and how easy it would be to move the standard. I ended up just moving the vertical access on my 3-way pan head on the tripod - which actually has some interesting and different effects compared to just using vertical movement with the lens. Anyway, I digress...

As far as PA, it's my opinion that these images are better suited and more appropriate in Photo Art. But as you noted, we haven't been moving those and we continue to try and not be heavy handed. I realize more folks comment here in ES&S and that's why the images probably get posted here. Having said that, I encourage folks to post in the best gallery. We will continue to move most of the "hand of man" images and try to be consistent with that.

Having said all that, I love this one! Makes me want to keep the technique inthe back of my mind for future outings.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on January 8, 2010 at 7:32 PM
Yes!!!! :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on January 8, 2010 at 11:48 PM
As an art piece it definitely works! As a "landscape" not sure.

Cool and would love to have such a thing on my wall.

Mark
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments
Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on January 9, 2010 at 10:23 AM
This is stunning work Vance! Beautiful feel to the image and colors are exceptional. Awesome creation this!
Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments
Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on January 9, 2010 at 1:47 PM
Vance,

I never thought very highly of these types of images, but this one is different. I like it very much. Makes me want to try it with the 4x5 as well.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 9, 2010 at 4:03 PM
I can really appreciate the play of light running through these lines, love the form and color as well.
Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Anderson on January 9, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Vance, This is fantastic! The micro detail is what puts this image totally over the top. One of the very best images I've seen in this genre. :toast:
Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Cameron on January 11, 2010 at 4:52 AM
Wonderful painterly appearance which works great with this image I agree with losing the blue streak although I dislike cloning after the fact. I might be tempted to pull back on the greens a fraction as I find them a little bit electric, but a deeply satisfying image never-the-less.
Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on January 15, 2010 at 2:21 PM
Hey, I don't know how I missed this one. It is very good! Very vibrant colors, and a nice texture, that almost looks like a woven tapestry.

Chris
Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments